Aidan O’Brien will unleash a four-pronged attack at the 2016 Irish Oaks, and the Ballydoyle supremo, who trained Bracelet to victory in the Curragh Group 1 two years ago, will have his quartet spearheaded by Even Song, who is aiming to build on a fine win in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and is set to be sent off a red-hot favourite for the showpiece event.

Even Song may not be the elite filly in the O’Brien yard, as that accolade would go to Classic heroine Minding, but the manner in which she stormed to victory in the Ribblesdale Stakes at the Royal meeting last month suggested that there’s a lot more to come at the highest level, and if she can continue on an upward curve will be the one to beat, and the 8/11 with Paddy Power could be a solid betting proposition.

She relished the step up to one-and-a-half miles and was certainly not stopping at the finish line, as she beat Ajman Princess by one-and-a-half lengths, and with that raider locking horns with her once again here then they are set to serve up another mouth-watering clash, but now in Group 1 company.

However, Ajman Princess fans will feel that the 7/1 shot with BetVictor may find it tough to turn that Ascot form around, and it could prove that Even Song could well beat her by a significantly bigger margin at the Curragh, so Ajman Princess is certainly one contender that will struggle to down the O’Brien hotpot.

Palmer Aims To Retain Crown With Architecture

Hugo Palmer tasted victory in this race 12 months ago with Covert Love, and the Classic-winning trainer, who is having a sensational campaign, will saddle Architecture, who was a disappointing eighth in the aforementioned Ribblesdale Stakes, but showed when a fine second to Minding in the Investec Oaks that she is far better than that Ascot run.

She will need to bounce back from that poor showing at the Berkshire venue, but if she can recapture that Epsom Classic form then the 13/2 with bet365 is certainly worth a second look, and the slightly quicker ground could see her improve here, but that run was so below-par that it’s going to be tough for her to land a blow here, and while some may look at her as an each-way prospect, there could be more eye-catching contenders elsewhere.

Somehow Best Of The Rest And Cracking Each-Way Play

Mick Channon’s Harlequeen had run encouragingly at the highest level this season, and at 14/1 with Paddy Power could be an attractive each-way bet if he can repeat his third place finish in the Oaks, but that race could throw up a more inspired bet here, and unsurprisingly it comes from the O’Brien yard.

Somehow was a battling winner of the Cheshire Oaks earlier in the season, but failed to land any blow at Epsom, but this track could play to her strengths here and at 33/1 with bet365 is hugely over-priced, and while she may find it tough to down stablemate Even Song is a lot better than that Epsom flop, so is worthy of an each-way bet.

Of the others, Pretty Perfect and Turret Rocks, both 16/1, will need career bests here, so maybe worth avoiding, as the O’Brien battalion can dominate throughout this feature race of the weekend, but Somehow is certainly a more interesting betting prospect for what is a renewal devoid of significant strength in depth.